What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?Dreams Deferred
Remember when you were a little girl and someone asked you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Chances are, you had a whole list of ideas – a doctor, a nurse, a school teacher, a ballerina. All you had to do was to think it and you believed it. Then you grew up and maybe all those things you wanted to be got lost in all of those things you were expected to be. A wife, a mother, a neighbor, scout leader, choir member – you get the picture.Whatever those dreams were that you had back then, how many of them have you accomplished? At some point, you realized that life has kept going and your life is standing still. You can’t quite put your finger on it. All you know is that everyone else seems to be moving with purpose and you feel that you have
become stuck. You begin to wonder, “How did I get here? I had so many dreams. Where do I go from here? What do I want to be when I grow up?”

I’m sure as you were growing up, many times you’re told that “you can be anything you want to be”, and “reach for the stars”. Or, some of you were told to go to college and major in “husbandry.” You know the art of finding a husband! And then the older you get, the more you begin to sabotage your own hopes of “being anything you want to be.” Something happens and the message begins to change. You’re told to be more realistic and to understand that your choices are limited. This will only be true if you believe it to be so. Life is long; you can always find something else to be when you grow up! Now you think it’s too late or you’re too old or you just don’t have enough time. Those are the “yes-buts. You know, “I would go back and complete my education-but…” Your “yes-buts” have become negative beliefs that you have allowed to lock you in a confined space, and that space is what’s holding you back. It’s not always easy to think about yourself when you have put the needs and wants of others first for so long. Here are some thoughts to get your mental juices flowing:
1.What is your passion? What would you do even if you weren't getting paid? What brings you satisfaction? How can you turn your passion into your work?

2.What did you want to do when you were a little girl? All you are now is a little girl all grown up! It’s not too late. What brings you joy?

3.How can you re-invent yourself? Just as your hair and nails continue to grow, so, too, should your mind and spirit. What gives you peace?

4.What do you do well? Don’t lament on what you can’t do, concentrate on your strengths. What makes you happy?

5.Where can you use your talents? Volunteer in a way that suits who you are and your interests. What gives you satisfaction?

6.Where are you spending your time? Align your time, talent and resources with activities and people that add meaning to your life. Don’t waste your time on things that are not adding value to your life? What gives you purpose?

Once you have an idea, I suggest you write down that dream that still resides in your spirit. Then make a list of all the reasons you can think of why you can’t accomplish your dream! Is it fear, anxiety, procrastination or you just don’t know? It’s OK if you can’t put your finger on it. The
most important thing is that you have finally started to think about it again. As time goes on, you’ll want to tackle each of the “yes-buts” until you have whittled your list down to “Yes I can!”
One of the most important things you can do in your life is having a positive attitude. With a positive attitude you’ll stop thinking about the “yes-buts” and focus on the “yes I can”. If you do not have a positive attitude; you will continue to doubt your ability to reach your dreams. You will defeat yourself right out of the gate and that is a nail in your coffin of personal development.

A dream deferred does not always go away. Sometimes, it will just take root somewhere deep in your spirit. You were born with a purpose and until you find that purpose, there should always be a yearning for something better. Whether it’s traveling, writing a book or taking some cooking classes,
a dream deferred can take on a life of its own. It can both go untapped and hang heavily in your spirit
or you can put on “layaway.” You remember lay-away, you put a little down and pay a little each week or each month until you've paid it off. You can take your dream off hold and put it on “layaway!” Whatever it is that you want, go, and do it now. Don’t underestimate the power of baby steps. Your dream is only one step from becoming a reality.

Enjoy your journey. You have a unique purpose in this life. Stop wasting time on what your life could have been and instead, discover your strengths, passions, purpose and build you a new life around these!

Author's Bio:

LINDA H. WILLIAMS

Mission Statement: Linda empowers women through her gifts as a life coach, facilitator, author and inspirational speaker. Her passion is to influence women in such a way as to motivate them into positive action.

Linda works tirelessly providing her services to various women’s organizations. She facilitates several support groups, workshops, seminars and provides inspirational speaking for many women’s causes. She provides life skills to the Women’s Prison system and to community based programs offered through local agencies. Linda provides professional development to local colleges and businesses.

Linda is the author of “Your Past Is Past” and is a contributing writer to It’s All About Women.com and Self Growth.com